The Holiday Movies We're Watching This Weekend, Because 'Tis The Season, Fellas

You're probably looking for a way to shake off the Thanksgiving bloat this weekend, and there's no better way to do so than to sit around and start enjoying the best Christmas movies out there.

C'mon, do you really want to start shopping already? Of course not, and because we're so damn sensitive, we've decided to make your life that much easier by pulling together the following guide to the best — and in some cases, a little off-kilter — Christmas movies out there.

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A Christmas Story (1983)

“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!” — that phrase was immortalized in this instant holiday classic that looks at the life of young Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsly) in 1940, who wants nothing more than to get his hands on a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. It’s so funny and touching as it also manages to capture family life in that era, nailing the joys of childhood along the way.

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A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)

The modern day Cheech & Chong (look it up), estranged friends Harold (John Cho, Sulu from the Star Trek films) and Kumar (Kal Penn, whose most recent role has been in ABC’s Designated Survivor) continue their stoner adventures as they search New York City for a Christmas tree to replace the one they inadvertently destroyed that belongs to Harold’s father-in-law. Nothing like the holidays, and a lot of weed to re-establish the power of friendship.

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Bad Santa (2003)

This dark, politically incorrect comedy is a welcome addition to any Christmas film viewing list. Here's what Google says about this one: "The crotchety Willie T. Stokes (Billy Bob Thornton) and his partner (Tony Cox) reunite once a year for a holiday con. Posing as a mall Santa and his elf, they rip off shopping outlets on Christmas Eve. This year, however, Willie is falling apart. He's depressed and alcoholic, and his erratic behavior draws the suspicion of mall security (Bernie Mac). But when befriending a small boy brings out his kinder side, Willie begins to wonder if there is still some hope for him." Ah, maybe a little, but if he gets too much hope, this stuff stops being funny, and nobody wants that. Spawned the 2016 sequel Bad Santa 2 with occasional rumblings of a third chapter.

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Die Hard (1988)

New York cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes to California to visit his estranged wife, being her guest at the company Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza. You know how these things go: the couple who are barely staying together actually get together, immediately begin to argue and you’re left wondering if the holiday spirit is enough to keep them together. Luckily in their case it is — especially when terrorists take over the building in search of riches, and McClane, who has managed to slip off from everyone else, starts taking them out one at a time. Alan Rickman is Hans Gruber, the grinch trying to steal this particular Christmas. Awesome action film that in many ways redefined the genre and the Christmas film. Ho-ho-ho and a yippee-ki-yay!

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Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

We all know the story of the Grinch and how he attempts to ruin the Christmas holiday for the people of Whoville, but thanks to little Cindy Who Lou and the spirit of her neighbors, he ultimately learns the true meaning of Christmas. Jim Carey (who does an amazing job bringing the previously animated character to life) is the Grinch, Taylor Momsen is Cindy.

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Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

Jim Varney plays plays taxi driver Ernest P. Worrell, who, it turns out, is the man that Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) has been looking for. It seems that the guy in red is looking for his successor and needs Ernest's help in finding him. Needless to say, things get complicated and Christmas could be in jeopardy, so it's Ernest to the rescue (sort of).

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Gremlins (1984)

The rules are simple when it comes to the tiny "mogwai" creature: never expose it to bright light, do not feed it after midnight and keep it away from water. When all of these rules are broken, all hell breaks loose as the good gremlin, Gizmo, spawns what turns into an army of evil gremlins, who run rampant on Christmas Eve. You've got to check out Phoebe Cates' reflection of the Christmas that changed her life forever. For the record, Gizmo is so cute.

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Home Alone (1990)

Little Kevin McCallister is accidentally left home (alone) by his family when they travel out of state for Christmas and can’t get back to him or even get in touch due to the weather (considering the same thing happens again in the sequel, uh maybe Child Protection Service should be called? Just sayin’). Proving himself reliable, he seems to be doing okay on his own. But, wait a sec, Kevin overhears a pair of bad guys (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) planning on robbing his house. Taking matters into his own hands, he’s ready for them when they arrive, setting up a wide array of booby traps from items around the house. Yippee ki yay...uh… young fella.

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It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

We can get as snarky as we want, but ain’t nobody throwing snark at this Christmas classic. It remains awesome over 70 years after its release. Directed by Frank Capra, it follows the life of George Bailey (James Stewart), who has spent nearly all his years helping others even when it’s meant that he’s had to give up his dreams of traveling the world. But he nonetheless seems to have it all, including a beautiful wife (Donna Reed) and wonderful kids. But circumstances bring him on a downward spiral and he reaches the point where he wishes he’d never been born. Thanks to his guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), he gets to see exactly what the world would be like without him ever having existed and it ain’t pretty. We defy you to watch the end of this movie and not shed a few tears (and don't go blamin’ the hot wings).

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Jack Frost (1997)

Murderer Jack Frost (Scott MacDonald) is killed in an accident that sees his body dumped in genetic material. As a result, he’s resurrected, but instead of being alive in his previous form, he’s a psychopathic snowman who’s out for revenge against the people he believes responsible for his death. The theme seems a little similar to Child’s Play, only in that case the killer’s spirit was put into a Chucky doll. Don’t let the kids think they’re watching Frosty The Snowman!

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Jingle All The Way (1996)

Ever wonder what Arnold Schwarzenegger would be like as a superhero? And don’t be throwin’ that Batman & Robin crap at us — he was a villain, Mr. Freeze, and that movie sucked anyway. Here he’s workaholic father Howard Langston who, on Christmas Eve and at the last possible minute, is trying to get his son (Jake Lloyd, the young Anakin Skywalker from The Phantom Menace) a Turbo-Man action figure. He manages to come across the one available copy, but ends up in battle with a mailman (Sinbad) who is attempting to make his own son happy, and what follows is their one-upping each other, culminating with Ahnuld taking on the guise of Turbo-Man. Humor and action wrapped in a holiday bow.

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National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Seeking the perfect family Christmas, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) makes his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) and kids crazy as he goes for that perfection. Anyone who’s seen how horribly the Griswold’s previous Vacations have gone, don’t have to imagine just how south things go here, beginning with the unexpected arrival of hick relatives and something living in their Christmas tree.

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The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

The King of Halloween Town, Jack Skellington, inadvertently comes across Christmas Town and his imagination is so captured that he attempts to bring Christmas to his town, though nobody has any idea what he’s talking about. Actor Chris Sarandon provides the voice of Jack in this stop motion animated film, with composer Danny Elfman providing the character’s singing voice.

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Rise Of The Guardians (2012)

It’s all well and good to see Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger going into action around the Christmas holidays, but nothing beats seeing Santa himself going into kick-ass mode, and that’s exactly what we get in this CG adventure. In it, Jude Law voices Pitch Black, who is determined to plunge the world into darkness and despair by destroying the belief of children in “guardians” like Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Well Santa (voiced by Alec Baldwin) ain’t having none of that crap, and he’s got the guns (his arms) to prove it!

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Trading Places (1983)

During the holidays, two rich bastards (played by Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy) decide to have a social experiment to argue the point of nature vs. nurture, changing the lives of snooty executive Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) and street hustler Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy). They orchestrate things so that the duo gradually exchange their current roles in society and are forced to see how the other half lives. Needless to say, Louis and Billy Ray manage to turn the tables. Extra bonus: Jamie Lee Curtis bares her boobies (not that you should watch for that reason).